The state's assault laws currently don't make a distinction between a bar fight and a wife or husband beaten at home.

"We'd have a much clearer picture of how much domestic violence is occurring in the state because we'd have one charge that is actually designated as domestic violence," said victim's advocate Amanda Grady Sexton.

Despite some concerns that the law would be redundant, prosecutors said it would offer a tool when a case makes its way through the courts.

"If we think that a certain act constitutes several different kinds of crimes, we can charge all of those," said Assistant Attorney General Ann Rice. "But the court will not sentence on all of them. They'll only sentence on one."

The law might not have saved Joshua's life, and his mother said she knows that. But she said she will continue to do what she can to help other families in similar circumstances.

After the Criminal Justice Committee makes its recommendation, the bill will go to the House floor for a full vote by the end of the month. The Senate passed the bill unanimously.

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